????最近,，福特汽車(chē)公司（Ford）發(fā)布了一個(gè)讓人驚訝的公告：它要在自己高科技含量極高的控制系統(tǒng)MyFord Touch上加裝收音機(jī)旋鈕,。這是從最新科技倒退到傳統(tǒng)技術(shù),，就像“人咬狗”一樣，是大家很少能在汽車(chē)業(yè)看到的新聞,，以后也別指望能再發(fā)生這類(lèi)事情,。

????這一舉動(dòng)的背景是：為了讓駕駛者減少分神，同時(shí)和競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手一較高下,，福特推出了音頻,、導(dǎo)航和其他功能的聲控和觸屏控制系統(tǒng)。但是駕駛者發(fā)現(xiàn),，這個(gè)新系統(tǒng)讓人困惑,，而《消費(fèi)者報(bào)告》（Consumer Reports ）則發(fā)表了一份報(bào)告，對(duì)這個(gè)系統(tǒng)的功能大加諷刺,。所以福特決定聽(tīng)取大家的意見(jiàn),，走個(gè)回頭路：裝個(gè)旋鈕，就能控制聲音和頻率了,?！秳P利藍(lán)皮書(shū)》（Kelley Blue Books，北美二手車(chē)行業(yè)的標(biāo)桿性定價(jià)雜志——譯注）的杰克?尼拉德稱(chēng)：“旋鈕大家既熟悉,，又好用,，是讓駕駛者控制車(chē)內(nèi)娛樂(lè)系統(tǒng)特別好的手段,。它能讓人少分心，也沒(méi)那么難用,，這就能帶來(lái)更大的方便,，還能提高安全性?！?/p>

????下一步懷舊穿越會(huì)是什么呢,？是不是我們會(huì)看到各廠(chǎng)商紛紛采用帶狀速度計(jì)（ribbon speedometers），裝在輪轂上的傳動(dòng)裝置按鈕（hub-mounted transmission button）,，或者說(shuō)三檔變速桿,？不太可能。實(shí)際上,，汽車(chē)業(yè)正在朝完全不同的方向發(fā)展?，F(xiàn)在一定年紀(jì)的駕駛者曾經(jīng)熟悉的很多功能要么正在消失，要么早已銷(xiāo)聲匿跡,。下面就是其中的一部分：

????1.手動(dòng)變速器

????傳統(tǒng)的離合器控制的手動(dòng)變速器名列瀕危物種名單的時(shí)間比黑足鼬（唯一原產(chǎn)于北美的雪貂——譯注）還長(zhǎng),。相比之下，自動(dòng)變速器只需要兩個(gè)踏板,，而且早已變得更平滑,、更高效、更廉價(jià),，更省油,。知名汽車(chē)網(wǎng)站Edmunds.com稱(chēng)，過(guò)去十年間,，新車(chē)銷(xiāo)售中手動(dòng)檔的比例已大幅下跌至3.8%,，盡管2012年有過(guò)短暫反彈。手自一體變速器和2014款吉普大切諾基（Jeep Grand Cherokee）這類(lèi)車(chē)所用的八速自動(dòng)變速器正日益普及,，這會(huì)讓人們更不愿意選購(gòu)手排檔,，也會(huì)讓一些特定車(chē)型更少選裝它。

????2.車(chē)鑰匙

????電子鑰匙取代傳統(tǒng)鑰匙成為車(chē)主打開(kāi)后備箱和車(chē)門(mén)最喜歡的方式已有很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間了——你還記得最后一次看見(jiàn)車(chē)身上的鑰匙孔是什么時(shí)候,？——現(xiàn)在用一鍵啟動(dòng)按鈕點(diǎn)火已讓模鑄金屬鑰匙變得多余了,。在一些高端車(chē)上，當(dāng)帶著電子鑰匙的車(chē)主接近自己的車(chē)時(shí),，車(chē)門(mén)就會(huì)自動(dòng)打開(kāi),，這樣電子鑰匙就不必從口袋或包里拿出來(lái)了。而停車(chē)場(chǎng)工作人員常常抱怨稱(chēng)一些健忘的車(chē)主老是停車(chē)后不拔車(chē)鑰匙,，不過(guò)這類(lèi)人總是少數(shù)。而今后,，用智能手機(jī)就能打開(kāi)車(chē)門(mén),，啟動(dòng)汽車(chē)了,。

????Recently, Ford (F, Fortune 500) made a surprising announcement: It is adding radio knobs to its hi-tech component control system MyFord Touch. That's a retreat from cutting-edge to old technology -- a man-bites-dog scenario you don't often see in the auto business. And don't expect to see it any more often in the future.

????Here's the background: In attempting to reduce driver distraction and get a jump on competitors, Ford had introduced a voice- and touch-screen system for audio, navigation, and other functions. But drivers found the new system confusing, and Consumer Reports issued a withering report on its functionality. So Ford decided to listen to popular concern and go backwards: It will now make it possible to control volume and frequency with the twist of a knob. "Familiar and easy-to-use knobs are exceptionally good ways for drivers to control in-car entertainment systems," says Kelley Blue Books' Jack Nerad. "They make for less distraction and less frustration, and that translates into more convenience and improved safety."

????What's next? Are we going to see a return to ribbon speedometers, hub-mounted transmission buttons, or three-on-a-tree gear shifters? Not likely. In fact, the industry is moving in a different direction; many of the features that drivers of a certain age find familiar are dying out or already dead. Here's a partial list:

????1. Manual transmissions

????Traditional clutch-controlled manual transmissions have certified for the endangered list longer than the black-footed ferret. Automatic transmissions that don't require a third pedal have simply become slicker, smoother, more efficient, less expensive to buy, and easier on fuel consumption. Manual shifts as a percentage of cars sold had shrunk by half in the last decade to 3.8%, according to Edmunds.com, though they experienced a brief rebound in 2012. The popularity of manumatic shifters along with eight-speed automatics like the one found on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee should further limit the desirability of stick shifts and limit their availability to specialty models.

????2. Keys

????Long ago replaced by the fob as the preferred way to open trunks and unlock doors -- when was the last time you saw an external keyhole anywhere on a car? -- stamped metal keys have been made redundant by ignitions that use start/stop buttons. On higher-end cars, the fob unlocks the door when the key-holder approaches the car, so it need not be lifted from a pocket or purse. Parking garage attendants complain that forgetful customer are forever walking away with their keys and leaving their cars immobilized, but they are in the minority. Coming next: cars that can be unlocked and started with your smartphone.